Korosh



c; KOROSH PEDAL March 24, 1964 OPERATED DRUM SET 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1963 m T N E V m CHARLES KOROSH 'ATTO' March 4, 1964 c. KOROSH 3 PEDAL-OPERATED DRUM SET Filed Sept. 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B4 FIG. 5. n4 uo\'-- i f i I ,440' 108 3 1 us 1 I P v I I I I l r 132 l 1" I ll .-J o 139 H1 l .w

M J 2 .1" "I INVENTOR CHARLES KOROSH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,125,921 PEDAL-OPERATED DRUM SET Charles Korosh, Westhury, N.Y. Filed Sept. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 308,298 2 Claims. (Cl. 84422) This invention relates to a pedal-operated drum set.

Briefly stated, the object of this invention is the provision of a pedal-operated mechanism which actuates multiple sound-producing instruments, particularly of the percussion type. More specifically, the mechanism is provided with a single pedal which is adapted to actuate a plurality of instruments. Consequently, a single player may utilize this mechanism to play a plurality of percussion instruments, using only one foot to do so, thereby leaving his other foot free, as well as his hands, to perform with other instruments. In a sense, this mechanism enables a player to perform in the manner of a oneman band.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism of the character described which is adapted to receive various kinds of percussion devices such as drumsticks, brushes, hammers and the like, as Well as such instruments as maracas and castenets and variations thereof. The mechanism is adapted to receive a plurality of these devices and to actuate them at susbtantially the same time and by means of the same pedal. An important feature is the interchangeability of these devices so that each individual musician operating the mechanism may set it up in accordance with his own preferences and requirements.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism of the character described which provides a compact percussion system adapted in a relatively small space to perform the functions of a plurality of conventional instruments which would normally occupy a much larger space.

In one form of the invention the mechanism is in part situated within a drum, and the pedal which actuates the mechanism is also situated within said drum. This is in contradistinction to the conventional practice of placing the actuating mechanism and pedal outside of the drum. Conventional drums are generally provided with two skins affixed to opposite ends or sides of the drum cylinder. In the present case, the drum is provided with only a single skin and the drum cylinder is open at the end or side opposite said single skin. This provides access to the inside of the drum and renders it possible to install the mechanism and pedal herein claimed within the drum. In this connection it should be noted that although the conventional practice is to beat the outer surfaces of the drum skins, in the present case it is the inner surface of the skin which is engaged.

In another form of this invention, the mechanism is related to a relatively flat or shallow drum supported with its longitudinal axis extending vertically. While the actuating mechanism herein claimed is situated externally of the drum, unlike the first form of the invention, the object in this case is to provide for a device which is compact in height or in its vertical dimension, although it may be extended in its horizontal dimension.

The invention is illustrated in the acompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a pedal-operated drum set made in accordance with one form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary View showing the device equipped with maracas.

FIGURE 5 is a top View of a pedal-operated drum set made in accordance with a second from of this invention.

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FIGURE 6 is a view of said pedal-operated drum set taken from the position of the operator thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the first form of this invention and to FIGURES l to 4 of the drawing, it will be observed that a frame It) is provided to support the mechanism herein claimed. This frame may simply be a fiat bar 10a which is disposed horizontally on a suitable support, such as a floor, a short bent portion Ilib projecting vertically upwardly from the forward end of said flat bar Illa, and a second short bent portion extending horizontally rearwardly from the top of vertical portion 101). A sub-frame 12 is also provided, this sub-frame comprising a U-shaped member having a horizontal yoke 12a and a pair of upwardly extending arms 12b and 12c, respectively. The yoke 12a is supported across horizontal bar 10a and is secured thereto by conventional means, as by welding.

An extension plate 14 is hingedly connected to the back end of horizontal bar Illa by means of hinge 16. Said extension plate may be folded under the horizontal bar 10a when it is not in use, as note the interrupted lines 14a. When the extension plate is extended on a plane with the horizontal bar 10a, as shown in FIGURE 2, it is intended to support the heel of the musicians foot which operates the mechanism. A rubber mat 13 may be applied to said extension plate to resist skidding of the heel.

A pedal 20 is hingedly connected to the horizontal bar 163a by means of hinge 22. Said pedal may also be provided with a rubber mat 24 to prevent skidding. It will be understood that when the musicians heel rests on mat 18, his sole will rest on mat 24. In order to operate the mechanism shown in FIGURES l to 4 of the drawing, the pedal 24B is worked up and down by the musicians foot, as will shortly become apparent.

Extending from arm 12b to Me is a shaft 30 which sup ports a pair of blocks 32 and 34 respectively. These blocks should be free to rotate on said shaft relative to each other and one way of supporting them on the shaft is to mount them on a pair of sleeves or bushings 36 and 38 respectively. These sleeves or bushings are free to rotate on the shaft.

Pivotally connected to the forward end of block 32 is an S-shaped link 40 and pivotally connected to the rear end of block 34 is another S-shaped link 42. The opposite end of S-link 40 is pivotally connected to the forward end of a bar 44 and the opposite end of S-link 42 is pivotally connected to the back end of said bar 44. It will now be noticed that the forward end of pedal 20 is connected to or rests upon bar 44. Consequently, when the pedal is depressed, it moves bar 44 downwardly and causes the two blocks 32 and 34 to pivot in opposite directions.

To insure a return movement or action of the two blocks 32 and 34, spring action is provided in the form of springs 46 and 48 respectively. Spring 46 is connected at its lower end to yoke 12a and at its upper end to the back end of block 32. Spring 48 is connected at its lower end to yoke 12:; and at its upper end to the forward end of block 34. It follows from the foregoing that when pedal 20 is depressed, block 32 will be caused to pivot in clockwise direction and block 34 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2. Conversely, when pedal 20 is released, springs 46 and 48 will act upon the two blocks to cause block 32 to swing in counterclockwise direction and block 34 in clockwise direction back to their original positions, thereby also elevating the pedal to its original position.

In order to limit the upward movement of the pedal, and to cushion the impact developed in stopping it, a rubber ball Stl is provided in shaft 3ft. A wedge-shaped element 52 is adjustably mounted on the pedal for engagement with said rubber ball. The position of said wedge 52 relative to said ball 50 will determine the extent of the upward stroke of the pedal. This adjustment is also possible by leaving the wedge in fixed position on the pedal and moving the ball relative to said wedge. A sec-' ond ball 54 is secured to the bottom of bar 44 to serve as a stop member limiting the downward stroke of the pedal. This second ball serves as a cushion or bumper against yoke 12a.

It will now be seen that blocks 32 and 34 are provided with a plurality of holes 6d, some of which extend longitudinally of blocks and others vertically thereof. Thumb screws 62 are also provided in said blocks 32 and 34. It will be seen that mounted in holes 62'? are a drumstick 64, a brush 6d, and a pair of maracas 68 and 70. More specifically, the shanks of these devices are supported in holes tit) and thumbscrews 62 are caused to engage said shanks in order to hold said devices in place on blocks 32 and 34.

A bolt 72 is secured to vertical frame member ltib in order to support a drum 74 thereon. A cymbal 75 may be affixed by bolt '76 to the top of the drum. It will now be understood that when the pedal is worked up and down in the manner above described, the drumstick 64 and the brush as will alternately beat the drum, and on the return stroke will hit the cymbal. In another use of the device, the maracas 68 and 7i? will be caused to pivot in opposite directions to provide a shaking motion. Also, two heaters such as drumsticks or brushes may be mounted vertically in holes 68 tobeat a vertically mounted drum which can be bolted to front of device by bolt 72.

Reviewing the foregoing, it will be observed that what is involved in this mechanism is a plurality of percussion devices which are pivotally mounted, a pivotally mounted pedal, and a plurality of bellcranks between the pedal and the percussion devices. It will now be seen that the same principles are involved in the second form of this invention.

Turning to FIGURES to 7 inclusive, it will be noted that a base 80 is provided and on said base is a drum 82. This drum has only one skin 84 on the forward end thereof, the back end of said drum being open. A frame 86 is mounted within the drum, being secured to the cylindrical wall of the drum and to base 80. A pedal 88 is pivotally secured to the cylindrical wall of the drum by means of hinge 941 and it will be understood that said hinge may also be attached to frame 86.

The main body of the pedal is disposed within the drum cylinder, projecting forwardly therein in the direction of skin 84. The forward end of the pedal is attached by means of a strap 92 to a bellcrank 94. The bellcrank is mounted on a shaft 96 journaled into frame 86. A hammer 98 is removably secured to bellcrank 94 by means of clamp screw 1% and it will now be apparent that when the pedal is depressed, bellcrank 94 will be caused to turn in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 7, thereby bringing the head of the hammer into striking engagement with the skin of the drum. To return the pedal and the hammer to their original positions, a spring 162 is provided, the lower end of said spring being attached to frame 86, and the upper end to a bellcrank 1114 which is secured to shaft d6.

A second frame 196 is mounted on top of the drum and it will be observed that this frame bears considerable resemblance to frame 12 previously described. A shaft 1&8 is supported by frame 166 and mounted on said shaft are blocks 11% and 112, respectively. Preferably, these blocks are supported on sleeves or bushings so that they may rotate about the axis of shaft 108 independently of each other.

A generally S-shaped link 114 is connected to the forward end of block 110 and also to a plate 116. A second S-shaped link 118 is connected to the back end of block 112 and also to said plate 116. A rod 120 is connected at its upper end to plate 116 and at its lower end to a above been described in connection with pedal 20 and it causes the two blocks 111) and 112 to pivot simultaneously in opposite directions.

A drumstick 139 and a brush 132 and other devices,

such as maracas and the like, may be removed and interchangeably secured to said blocks 11%) and 112 and held in place by means of clamp screws 134. A rubber ball 136 is mounted on shaft 193 to cushion and limit the upward movement of plate 116 under the influence of spring 124. It will now be understood that a drum 138 is supported by means of bracket 14%] on the cylindrical wall of drum 82, and a cymbal 140 is adjustably mounted on bracket 13?, and when the pedal is actuated, hammer 98 will strike drum 82 while drumstick and brush 132 will strike drum 138, and on the return stroke, drumstick 130 Will strike cymbal 140.

The foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of this invention and it will be understood that these forms may be modified and other forms may be provided within the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pedal-operated drum set, comprising a base, a drum having a cylindrical body mounted on said base with its longitudinal axis extending generally horizontally, said drum having only a single membrane which extends in a generally vertical plane across the front end of said cylindrical body, the back end thereof being open, a frame supported within said cylindrical body, a pedal pivotally mounted on said frame and being accessible to the operator of the drum through the open end of said cylindrical body, a bellcrank mounted on said frame, a hammer secured to said bellcrank, said bellcrank being pivotable in one direction to bring said hammer into'percussive engagement with said membrane and being pivotable in the opposite direction to disengage said hammer from said membrane, spring means biasing said bellcrank in said second direction, and a strap connecting said pedal to said bellcrank, whereby depressing the pedal causes the bellcrank to pivot in the first-mentioned direction in opposition to the spring action, thereby bringing the hammer into percussive engagement with the drum and whereby releasing the pedal enables the spring means to pivot the bellcrank in said second-mentioned direction and thereby to disengage the hammer from the membrane.

2. A pedal-operated drum set in accordance with claim 1, wherein a second frame is mounted on the cylindrical body of the drum, a second drum having a cylindrical body mounted adjacent said second frame with its longitudinal axis extending generally vertically, said second drum having a membrane which extends in a generally horizontal plane across the upper end of its cylindrical body, a generally horizontal shaft mounted on said second frame adjacent said second drum, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said shaft, a pair of drum-actuating elements detachably secured to said levers and being movable into and out of percussive engagement with the membrane of said second drum on pivotal movement of said levers about the axis of said shaft, a horizontal plate situated below said shaft between the two levers thereon, a generally S-shaped link connecting one end of one of said levers with one end of said plate, a second generally 8- shaped link connecting the opposite end of the second lever to the opposite end of said plate, spring means connected between the second frame and said horizontal plate urging said plate upwardly, and a pull member connecting said horizontal plate to the bellcrank mounted on the first frame, whereby depressing the pedal causes said bellcrank to pivot and thereby to pull said horizontal plate downwardly against the action of said second-mentioned spring means, whereby levers are pivoted in opposite direction, one of said pair of drum-actuating elements being brought into percussive engagement with the membrane of the second drum and the other of said pair being moved out of engagement with said membrane, and whereby releasing said pedal enables said second-mentioned spring means to thrust said horizontal plate up- Wardly and thereby to reverse the pivotal movements of said pair of levers, bringing the last-mentioned drumactuating element into percussive engagement with the membrane of the second drum and moving the other drum-actuating element of said pair of elements out of engagement with said membrane.

No references cited. 

1. A PEDAL-OPERATED DRUM SET, COMPRISING A BASE, A DRUM HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BODY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS EXTENDING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY, SAID DRUM HAVING ONLY A SINGLE MEMBRANE WHICH EXTENDS IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE ACROSS THE FRONT END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY, THE BACK END THEREOF BEING OPEN, A FRAME SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY, A PEDAL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR OF THE DRUM THROUGH THE OPEN END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY, A BELLCRANK MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A HAMMER SECURED TO SAID BELLCRANK, SAID BELLCRANK BEING PIVOTABLE IN ONE DIRECTION TO BRING SAID HAMMER INTO PERCUSSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MEMBRANE AND BEING PIVOTABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO DISENGAGE SAID HAMMER FROM SAID MEMBRANE, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID BELLCRANK IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION, AND A STRAP CONNECTING SAID PEDAL TO SAID BELLCRANK, WHEREBY DEPRESSING THE PEDAL CAUSES THE BELLCRANK TO PIVOT IN THE FIRST-MENTIONED DIRECTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE SPRING ACTION, THEREBY BRINGING THE HAMMER INTO PERCUSSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DRUM AND WHEREBY RELEASING THE PEDAL ENABLES THE SPRING MEANS TO PIVOT THE BELLCRANK IN SAID SECOND-MENTIONED DIRECTION AND THEREBY TO DISENGAGE THE HAMMER FROM THE MEMBRANE. 